The treatments
What Is Kese? The Scrub at the Heart of the Hamam
Of all the parts of a Turkish bath, the kese is the one most particular to it. It's simple, it's old, and it's done for you.
Updated
In short
Kese is the traditional Turkish body scrub: when the heat of the hamam has warmed you through, an attendant scrubs you down with a rough mitt, which is itself called a kese. It comes before the foam, it is firm rather than gentle, and in our Alanya programme it is part of the basic price.
The mitt and the word
"Kese" is both the object and what's done with it. The mitt is made of a coarse fabric and slips over the attendant's hand like a glove. The scrub itself is also called kese — so the kese is done with a kese.
How the scrub is done
The kese always follows the heat. After your spell in the warmth, you lie down on the marble and the attendant runs the mitt over your whole body in long, firm strokes.
It is meant to feel vigorous. If you'd like it lighter, say so — the attendant can adjust.
Kese and foam: the difference
| Kese | Foam (köpük) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A scrub with a coarse mitt | A wash and massage in soap foam |
| How it feels | Firm and vigorous | Light and soft |
| When | First, after the heat | Straight after the kese |
| Included in our basic programme | Yes | Yes |
In our Alanya programme
In the basic programme the kese sits between the steam room and the foam, and the hotel transfer both ways is included. See the programme and the price · what the foam is.